“Finian, you did what you thought right,” she said. “In the end, you probably saved many lives.”
Margaret looked for somewhere to sit. Papers and documents covered every spare flat surface. Finian cleared a space in an easy chair.
“Under Bram’s will, everything comes to me – including the Kelloway and Bains shares.”
The two men looked at each other. This was part of the mess they were trying to unravel. “Any way we can help?” Nathan said. He spread his arms wide in an open gesture.
“It will take a while to sort out the estate. The lawyers say at least a couple of months.” She straightened her dress and added, “I’ve decided to sell the shares.” Both men looked worried. Margaret shook her head. “I’ve never owned a company before and frankly I wouldn’t know where to start.”
Nathan put his head in his hands. Was there no end to this uncertainty? he thought.
“I’m giving you first refusal.”
“Don’t know if we can afford it. Bonnie borrowed so much from Norton-Hunter.”
“Forget Norton-Hunter. This is between the three of us. I’m sure you’ll be able to afford my price. You were kind to me when I needed support and now I’m returning the favour. How much do both of you have at this moment?”
Finian took out his money clip and a handful of change. “Fifteen pounds and...” he counted, “fifty six pence.”
“One pound, twenty three pence,” added Nathan.
“A total of sixteen pounds, seventy nine pence. The very price I had in mind.”
“Retain some interest in the company – please.”
“I’m going away and I want to forget everything about Bonnie, and Kelloway and Bains. No offence.”
“None taken.”
She kissed each on the cheek. “My lawyers will call you with the details.”
“There goes one grand lady,” Finian said and the two went back to work.
They had hardly started when there was a knock at the door. Detective Sergeant Clive said, “We’ve finished now. All the Lycad documents – those we could find – have been boxed and we’ll be taking them away.” He looked at his watch. “We’ve got two other teams at Norton-Hunter and Lycad. They should have finished about now as well.”
When Clive had gone, Nathan said, “I’ve no idea what they intend doing with them. Of the two culprits; one is dead and the other looks like spending the next few years in jail.”
“Dad,” Finian said. “I should be getting back. We’re busting at the seams and I’ve new offices to find.”
“There’s all the space you need right here. Why don’t you bring your people back?”
“A lot of us have bad memories.”
“It’s people who make companies – not buildings,” Nathan said. “You could sit right here.” He patted the back of Bonnie’s chair. “It’s where you belonged all along. Just took a little time for it to happen.”
Finian eased himself gently into the chair and stretched out his arms to feel the edge of the desk. “On one condition,” he said, “that you take the room next door.”
“I hate that office.” It was the room that Bonnie had allocated him and the one he always refused to occupy.
“I can fix that. Something I picked up a while ago. I’ve been looking for the right moment.” Finian lifted the phone and tapped in a number. “You can bring it around now.”
Within fifteen minutes the office next to Finian had been furnished with a massive desk of which it was said there were only two others in the world: the other had belonged to Stalin.
Finian watched Nathan arrange his personal possessions around him once more. If he was going to remain there, he had better tackle the mountain of paperwork left by Bonnie. He pulled a bulging file towards him and bent his head.
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Bad Influence Page 30